G.A. & H. Boehm Architects Collection of European Study Prints, 1890s
Collection context
- Creator:
- G.A. & H. Boehm, Architects and Fratelli Alinari
- Extent:
- 7 manuscript boxes
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
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Collection consists of hundreds of albumen prints mounted on linen. The prints are of historic monuments and architectural and decorative details in European countries such as Italy, France, and Spain. These types of study prints were commonly found in many architectural firms during the late 19th and early 20th century. Though it is unclear how this particular collection of albumen prints was amassed by the office of G.A. and H. Boehm, Architects, it is possible that either brother purchased the prints while traveling in Europe during the 1890s-1900s. Many of the prints in the collection are from the core of historic images of art historical monuments. The majority of the prints are from the Italian firm Fratelli Alinari. In 1852 Leopoldo Alinari established a studio in the Via Nazionale in Florence. Two years later, his brothers Giuseppe and Romualdo (1830-1891) joined him in the venture which they then named "Fratelli Alinari, Fotografi Editori." Giuseppe and Romualdo managed the business while Leopoldo traveled, photographing monuments in Rome, Florence, Naples, Pompeii and elsewhere in Italy. By the 1860s the business expanded to a portrait studio and then publishing firm.
- Biographical / historical:
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George August Boehm (1874-1959), born in Boston, graduated from Columbia University in 1897, and then traveled in Europe for two years. He began an architectural practice in New York City by 1906, and was associate architect with Clinton & Russell on the Acker, Merrall & Condit Co. Building (1907), 366 Fifth Avenue. He was the architect of the Retaro Realty Co. Building (1910), 140-144 West 22nd Street; and the Forward Building (1912), 173-175 East Broadway, home of the socialist Yiddish-language newspaper the Jewish Daily Forward and today a designated New York City Landmark. From around 1912 until 1927, George was joined in the partnership of G.A. & H. Boehm by his brother, Henry A. Boehm (1879-1959). Born in Austria, Henry also attended Columbia University (he was listed as a non-graduate in 1901) and traveled in Europe. He apparently worked for a time in Asheville, North Carolina. Their firm was responsible for the Louis H. Chalif Normal School of Dancing (1916), 163-165 West 57th Street, Peck & Peck hosiery store, lofts, and office building (1920-21), 587 Fifth Avenue; a fifth-story addition (1924) at 133 West 18th Street for the Warner-Hudnut Corp.; and an apartment house (1926-27) at 45 Gramercy Park North. Their office was located at 7 West 42nd Street.
Both Boehms moved to Mt. Vernon, New York, before 1915; George later moved to Mt. Kisco and Henry moved to Manhattan. George Boehm was president of the Westchester County Society of Architects in 1942; was active in the Citizens Union; prepared the building code for Mt. Vernon and was on the advisory committee for New York City's; and served on a number of housing and planning committees. He designed the sewage treatment works (1937), Tallman's Island, Queens; Nurses Training School (1944), Greenpoint Hospital, Brooklyn; Fire Dept. Headquarters and station house (1945, demolished), Lafayette and Franklin Street; Brooklyn Public Library, Mapleton Branch (1950), 1702 60th Street; and public schools in New York City and Mt. Vernon. Henry Boehm designed a Harriman National Bank building; was working in the specifications department for the firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1955; and was associated with the firm of [Francis D.] Rogers & [Jonathan F.] Butler until 1958.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
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This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers are encouraged to request materials at least one month in advance. You will receive an email from the department within 2-3 business days confirming your request and currently available appointment times. Requests are limited to 8 boxes per day (or equivalent), with a maximum of 5 boxes for off-site materials, 5 folders of drawings, or 5 rolls or tube boxes.
- Contact:
- avery-drawings@columbia.edu